AMD has recently unveiled its Ryzen 9000-series processors, marking the debut of the new Zen 5 CPU architecture in the desktop market. However, both reviewers and testers have encountered challenges in achieving the expected performance levels, leading to a series of clarifications and promises from AMD regarding the discrepancies noted prior to the public launch.
A Windows problem
One of the primary solutions for the underwhelming gaming performance is set to arrive with the upcoming Windows 11 24H2 update, scheduled for release later this year. This update will introduce “optimized AMD-specific branch prediction code,” which is expected to enhance the performance of the Ryzen 9000 series by approximately 3 to 13 percent across a range of games and benchmarks, although some tests have indicated no measurable improvement. Notably, these enhancements will also extend to Ryzen processors based on Zen 3 and Zen 4 architectures, with the most significant gains reserved for the Ryzen 9000 and Zen 5.
Interestingly, this branch prediction improvement is already accessible in current Windows builds, provided users run games and applications in Administrator mode, a method employed by AMD during its testing. However, the specifics of whether AMD utilized a fully enabled Administrator account or simply ran applications with elevated permissions remain ambiguous. Typically, standard user accounts operate in a limited mode, requiring elevation only for specific tasks, which raises questions about the testing methodology. Nevertheless, the forthcoming 24H2 update is anticipated to make these enhancements available to standard user accounts operating in user mode.
The Windows 11 24H2 update is expected to be available to the general public this fall, with Windows Insiders already able to access it through the Insider Preview channel or by downloading an ISO. For users on Copilot+ PCs or the Ryzen AI-powered Asus laptop, the update is already the default version, suggesting a stable and reliable experience for everyday use. However, there is currently no information regarding potential updates for Windows 10, and given its impending end-of-support date, significant performance improvements for this older operating system seem unlikely.
A driver problem
In a conversation with Tom’s Hardware, AMD indicated that an update to its chipset drivers could address some of the performance issues experienced by reviewers, although average users may be less affected. The chipset drivers for the Ryzen 7900X3D and 7950X3D processors include a “core parking” feature designed to deactivate specific CPU cores when applications that benefit from higher single-core performance are detected. This feature aims to optimize performance by ensuring that games and applications utilize cores with access to the 3D V-Cache, rather than standard Zen 4 cores lacking this additional cache.
While the Ryzen 9900X and 9950X do not feature the extra cache, the drivers still attempt to park cores to enhance gaming performance. However, it appears that once installed, AMD’s drivers may inadvertently keep parking cores across all Ryzen 9000 CPUs, including those with fewer cores that do not benefit from this feature. Currently, the only method to resolve this issue is to completely reinstall Windows. This situation is unlikely to impact most users, who typically install a single CPU and use it for years without replacement. However, reviewers, who often swap CPUs on the same motherboard without altering the Windows installation, may find this problematic. AMD has expressed its intention to rectify this issue by the time the 9000X3D series CPUs are released, although a specific timeline has yet to be disclosed.
Other problems?
Neither AMD’s blog post nor the interview with Tom’s Hardware addressed a specific fix that was recommended during testing. When using DDR5-6000 with EXPO or XMP overclocking profiles, AMD suggested adjusting the processor’s SoC voltage from the default 1.25V to 1.2V and manually setting the Infinity Fabric clock speed (FCLK) to 2000 MHz in the BIOS. While this may have been an anomaly related to the Asus motherboard used for testing, AMD has indicated that further BIOS updates will be necessary to ensure the Ryzen 9000 CPUs perform as intended.
Additionally, AMD attributed some of the performance discrepancies to variations in testing configurations among reviewers. The company noted that it conducts tests with Windows’ Virtualization-Based Security (VBS) enabled, while many PC gamers disable this feature to enhance performance. Furthermore, AMD tests Intel chips with DDR5-6000 and default power settings, whereas reviewers often experiment with various RAM speeds and power configurations.
As AMD navigates these challenges with the Ryzen 9000 series, the upcoming Windows improvements and the recent microcode patch from Intel to prevent overheating in its high-end CPUs will prompt a comprehensive retesting of CPU performance. This process aims to ensure that the data reflects real-world user experiences, with any significant findings shared with the community as they emerge.
